Work Vehicle Travel Switching Speed Threshold to Reduce Shocks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Work vehicles experience shocks and require significant deceleration when switching between forward and backward travel modes, leading to prolonged switching times, especially during operations like dozer work that frequently alternate directions.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle equipped with a vehicle speed detecting mechanism, a restrainer vehicle speed setter, and a switch restrainer that allows switching between forward and backward travel only when the vehicle speed is below a set threshold, and includes deceleration controllers to manage speed changes, ensuring smooth transitions with reduced shocks and rapid direction changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the forward/backward travel switching device is made switchable at higher vehicle speeds, then the switching time between forward and backward travel is reduced, but shocks occur during switching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching timeVSAvoidshocks
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The restrainer vehicle speed is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The setting value changing mechanism allows the operator to modify the restrainer vehicle speed based on working conditions, enabling the system to adapt between prioritizing shock reduction (lower speed threshold) and prioritizing switching speed (higher speed threshold).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of restrainer vehicle speed threshold to resolve the contradiction. By allowing this parameter to be adjusted, the system can flexibly balance between permitting switching at higher speeds (reducing switching time) and maintaining lower speeds (reducing shocks).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the forward/backward travel switching device is restricted to low vehicle speeds, then shocks are prevented, but the switching time increases due to required deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveshocksVSAvoidswitching time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The restrainer vehicle speed threshold is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the system to adapt to different working conditions, enabling operators to prioritize either shock prevention or switching speed depending on the situation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of restrainer vehicle speed threshold to resolve the contradiction. By allowing this parameter to be adjusted, the system can flexibly balance between permitting switching at higher speeds (reducing switching time) and maintaining lower speeds (reducing shocks).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequent forward and backward travel switching is performed during work operations, then operational flexibility is improved, but the cumulative switching time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidcumulative switching time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable restrainer vehicle speed threshold enables dynamic adaptation to different work scenarios. For frequent switching operations, the threshold can be raised to allow switching at higher speeds, reducing cumulative switching time while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables smooth and rapid switching between forward and backward travel by controlling vehicle speed and clutch engagement, minimizing shocks and deceleration, thus enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a hydrostatic, continuously variable transmission device configured to receive motive power from the engine, vary the motive power, and output the varied motive power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrostatic transmission: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

a planetary transmission device configured to receive the motive power from the engine and the motive power from the continuously variable transmission device, composite (combine) the motive power from the engine and the motive power from the continuously variable transmission device, and output the composite motive power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanetary gear transmission: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP4372248B1Work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4372248B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4372248B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4372248B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A work vehicle includes: a restrainer vehicle speed setter (71) configured to set a restrainer vehicle speed for preventing the switch of a forward/backward travel switching device (23) ; and a switch restrainer (70) configured to (i) permit the switch of the forward/backward travel switching device (23) while a detected vehicle speed is lower than the restrainer vehicle speed and (ii) prevent the switch of the forward/backward travel switching device (23) while the detected vehicle speed is a high speed not lower than the restrainer vehicle speed.